What’s also important, but not evident, on this chart is that Obama’s major expenses were temporary — the stimulus is over now — while Bush’s were, effectively, recurring. The Bush tax cuts didn’t just lower revenue for 10 years. It’s clear now that they lowered it indefinitely, which means this chart is understating their true cost. Similarly, the Medicare drug benefit is costing money on perpetuity, not just for two or three years. And Boehner, Ryan and others voted for these laws and, in some cases, helped to craft and pass them.
To relate this specifically to the debt-ceiling debate, we’re not raising the debt ceiling because of the new policies passed in the past two years. We’re raising the debt ceiling because of the accumulated effect of policies passed in recent decades, many of them under Republicans. It’s convenient for whichever side isn’t in power, or wasn’t recently in power, to blame the debt ceiling on the other party. But it isn’t true.
This is the main reason I have NEVER taken the Teabaggers seriously because they are so clearly resistant to recognizing that the tremendous economic problems facing our country have virtually NOTHING to do with President Obama and EVERYTHING to do with George W. Bush, the fake president who came before him.
Let's face it, if the Teabaggers were serious about "taking their country back," they would have been Democrats or even true Independents, not obviously transparent covert Republicans.
Oh, and they NEVER would have been ignorant enough to call themselves the "Tea Party" either.
WAY TOO COMPLICATED..... There isn't a tea-bagger alive that can read a bar-chart !! You should know that by now! It would take at least 50 years to re-vamp our education system for math at that level to get to Wally World's customers!!..!.!.!
ReplyDeleteThis is the sea-o-pee we're talking about Gryph... Not regular stupid people..!
Kudos, President Obama. I hope your campaign does an excellent job of highlighting this information.
ReplyDeleteWhat the hell was I thinking when I voted for Bush... twice??? Sometimes, I can be a real idiot.
One needs to couple this with who voter for these obscene drains on our economy. You know who they are? The very assholes who are now against raising the debt ceiling to PAY FOR WHAT THEY VOTED FOR!!!!!
ReplyDeleteNice try, Gryph, but the 'baggers aren't interested in facts. I'm not even sure they can read, and a "complex" graph like that is way, way over their pointy little heads. Besides all their posturing is just a smokescreen for their true agenda, "Get the black man out of our white house!"
ReplyDeleteYou make a very important point. They also don't seem to be working to make Wall Street accountable. If so, they would be working to support proposals Obama is trying to put in place to fix the underlying problems that allowed financiers to be so out of control and unethical. They just can't gat past their very real racism.
ReplyDeleteGryphen- thank you for your hard work keeping us informed and the new posts daily. who would have ever thought that this would turn out to be a FT "job" for you? i don't know how you do it!
ReplyDeleteEvery tea bagger will tell you THEY didn't vote for Bush, they HATED Bush, thought he was the worst. Yeah,right!
ReplyDeleteO/T
ReplyDeleteMother Jones has an EXCELLENT blog posted that should be read.
"The Teen Suicide Epidemic in Michele Bachmann's District"
"Two years. Nine suicides. Why critics blame the congresswoman's anti-gay allies for contributing to a mental health crisis."
"An unsettling rash of suicides among teenagers in Rep. Michele Bachmann’s Minnesota district, particularly among both gay teens and bullied teens, is troubling residents and state public-health officials, and is leading critics to blame the Republican congresswoman and her antigay allies."
Bachmann's allies have lobbied to put discredited "reparative therapy" materials in schools.
http://motherjones.com/print/124016
I call this 'blood on her & her gay husband's hands.
He can't stay in the closet forever. That sham marriage needs to be exposed too.
Whoop! whoo-hoo. The tea party caucus page is in hiding.
ReplyDeleteIt was there in full blossom last night as I was working my way through the list. Now it's, uh, down. Hope it is because it was flooded with angry people.
Anyone else desiring to vent to these morons can call 202-224-3121. Be patient I think the wires there are humming, too. It is the House switch board, ask for Don Young and then politely state your position. They will hang up otherwise.
You can also go to the Common Cause site to get this information. I am not a CC supporter, but I get their emails because I am union.
There is no support out here for the TP's attack on the middle class. If these mutton heads (apologies to sheep) have their way, i will be working until I die because the consequences will destroy my savings.
The beloved, late, wise old man of metal Ronnie James Dio said it best:
ReplyDelete"When you listen to FOOLS, The MOB Rules..."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTxSNosJrDo
RJD: R.I.P.
While all these facts and figures all support the true nature of what is going on it is lost on the baggers.You can not argue with a closed mind.These people refuse to see the truth.I had a friend who is a teabagger/Bush supporter and told her exactly why Bush was such a bad president,she told me she didn't care and would vote for Bush again if she could.Willful ignorance.Time for new friends I told myself.
ReplyDeleteThe very sad problem is that their racism trumps everything. I am sure that even if President Obama gave them everything they wanted re the debt ceiling solution they would criticize him, and vote NO and NO and NO again.
ReplyDeleteI agree that facts -- nevermind charts! -- are wasted on some of the bots.
ReplyDeleteBut I have some conservative friends who are slowly but surely opening their eyes. If nothing else, they're becoming aware that the Republicans have gone off the rails, and they no longer even bother trying to defend them.
I just shared this NYTimes article on my FB page to help. Those of us with sense & info must keep chipping away at the propaganda!!!
Just read we'll get to hear SP's take on the debt ceiling on Greta's show tonight. I can only imagine how nasty she'll be about Pres. Obama's speech last night. Ugh! I just want her to stay away!
ReplyDeleteIt's so easy to see and hear how many times the Rethugs have moved the bar.
ReplyDeleteThe stories written and comments made on MSM -- they all reference the Baggers as if the Rethugs were only opposing Obama from when the Baggers were voted into the House in 2010. The truth should be stated and re-confirmed - the Thugs have been the Party of NO since the day Obama took office.
sigh...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.rawstory.com/rawreplay/2011/07/gop-lawmaker-admits-he-extorting-congress-to-rewrite-constitution/
last night on Chris Matthews.
Aurora
They don't care about facts. That is the problem. And they are given different "facts" from their own leaders and find things wrong with other facts.
ReplyDeleteThe sad thing is - if you think our party (the Democrats) don't give out false information, you are quite wrong.
Both parties have serious issues. The reason I stay a Democrat is that I believe 150% in the philosophies of the Democratic party. But we have people who are just as in bed with special interests as the Republicans.
There are way way too many multi millionaires in public office. How can they possibly understand the problems of the common person.
Medicare part D - yes it costs money but it shouldn't be eliminated, it should be CHANGED. I know because I have it. It costs me more to buy medicines through my Part D plan then to go to Costco and pay cash from them. But if you don't take the Part D, you are charged a penalty later on.
The drugs should be cheaper through Part D, not a gift to big Pharma. That is how the Republicans got it passed. It gives lots of money to the pharmaceutical industry, but it is a crime against seniors and the disabled who truly need help with their medicines.
But, this assumes that the electorate can read and comprehend kind of complicated material. They want sound bites: "Obama is not one of us." "Obama hates whites." "Obama is a Muslim." "Obama spends our money like there's no tomorrow." "Obama hates whites." "Obama is wrong." "Obama must fail." "Save our country:vote for Republicans." Every one a lie, but every one gets money and votes for the insipid evil being propagated by the right.
ReplyDeleteFolks, i fear we were doomed the day the SCOTUS gave corporations the keys to the White House.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the studied fury exhibited by President Obama when he called them out for it during a State of the 'Onion' speech, it's possible that he believes we're fucked, too.
A Black man becomes President for the first time in the good ole white US of A. The shitstorms at "town hall meetings" begin. The racist right-wing Obama-hating Tea Party is born with Sarah Palin to whip 'em up. Coincidence? You be the judge.
ReplyDeleteTotally, O/T, but I got banned from all comments on HuffPo. What was my egregious sin? I had the audacity to bring up the name of Andrea Mackris in the thread about Bill O'Reilly declaring that Breivik couldn't be Christian. O'Reilly claimed that it was a progressive plot against Christians that was behind labeling him Christian.
ReplyDeleteWho is Andrea Mackris, you might ask? She is the former FauxNews producer who Billow the Pervert sexually harassed.
I gleefully pointed out that O'Reilly's conduct toward Mackris was hardly Christian. For that transgression, I have been banned.
The good news is, if in the course of the FBI's investigation of News Corpse, the case surrounding Mackris' allegations and her reportedly $11 million non-disclosure agreement is delved into, the details then become matters of public record subject to citation in both criminal and civil court and the non-disclosure agreement is effectively null and void.
O'Reilly's dirty little secret may still see the light of day.
Oh, I almost forgot. FUCK HUFFINGTON POST.
OT. I sent this Email to Nicole Coulter at c4pee regarding the survey they were taking:
ReplyDeleteWhen you post your results from the survey monkey, please use the results pages that they provide, not one written out by c4p. It might add to your credibility.
This is the response I received:
I'll be sure to use the results page but right after I delete all the responses from the unhelpful people who think C4P editors, contributors and readers are deluded. Does that work?
So much for credibility huh.
Today is the day a bunch of them were saying silly Sarah was going to announce, I have a feeling they are going to be disappointed.
You understand it, I understand it, but it floors me when I show such facts to a Teabagger that they just CAN't see it. Or refuse to accept it. It's willful ignorance and we shouldn't tolerate it anymore.
ReplyDeleteI was watching Bonanza this am, and Marlo Thomas was playing a Chinese young lady who looked up to her teacher. Her script said this...
ReplyDelete"Good Morning, Generable Teacher...I dedicate this day to you and I promise always to remember the 3 laws of progress. NEVER mind my own business, NEVER allow people to be contented with their faith, and NEVER BE reasonable. For reason leads To Compromise, And Compromise means DEFEAT." Wow, this was a TV script from 1964 and is a page from today's proceedings in Washington DC.
So my congressman's site (Lamar Smith) is no longer functioning. Apparently you can't send an email directly. Something tells me that it's down on purpose. Drown out all the voices that don't fall in line with their talking points.
ReplyDeleteGasman:
ReplyDeleteMany of us have been banned from FuckHuff!!
I consider Huff as useless as a tit on a bull!!
Don't bother ideologues with facts and numbers. They live at 123 LaLaLand.
ReplyDeleteGryph,
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting. It's important that as many people as possible see this information.
@Anonymous 8:58 am
The White House has posted an infographic with this message. Maybe it's just me, but I don't think it's as clear as the chart Gryph posted.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/infographics/us-national-debt
The most galling aspect of this whole dysfunctional situation is that the Tea Party has this country by the balls. If House GOP were not shamelessly irresponsible and pandering to the TPers, people like Michelle Bachmann could not get away with saying "let the country default."
No reasonable person wishes this scenario on any country, but the TPers want this for the country they love. Sick, perverse, counterproductive; where do the solutions lie if they get what they want?
I know that the TPers have dug in their heels and refuse to listen to anything that doesn't support their beliefs. But Americans should be reminded of the simple phrase "minority rights, majority rules" we wouldn't be in this godawful mess.
They don't need to see it -- they already know - they just don't care. They know that the only hope they have of beating Obama in 2012, is for the economy to tank, so that's what they're working toward. Because it's much more important for there to be a republican president than to do the right thing for our country.
ReplyDeleteI just tried to send an email to Boehner on his national website and it would not go through. Aside from the fact I indicated he was a 'jerk', I also claimed he should be tried for treason. Wonder why they would not accept me? Hopefully, there were many other messages like mine.
ReplyDeleteThe Repubs need to be brought down in this upcoming election as well as the Tea Party group as their part.
They are doing everything they can to bring down President Obama in order he not be re elected. Screw them is what I say!!! Join me in this declaration and vote them down.
Do you mind if I borrow this graph to post on my own website (no I won't give the URL, it's an adult site so you know it has porn on it as well as gore and extreme rudeness)? I have a lot of conservatives there (of course, see: Porn) and I want to plop this in our Debate section to watch their arteries burst.
ReplyDeleteI would of course include a link back to your entire article at Immoral Minority with a direct credit to you. Despite my guys being (or claiming to be, more likely) conservatives, they all generally hate Sarah Palin.
Sarah Palin says Obama's ideas 'are the antithesis' of the forefathers
ReplyDelete“The White House and many liberals in Congress are so addicted to that OPM, other people’s money, that it’s much easier to spend other people’s money than their own," Palin said on the Fox Business Network.
This Idiot/quitter is pocketing/spending her fans $ and she is complaining abt libs!!!! WTF
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2011/07/sarah-palin-says-obamas-ideas-are-the-antithesis-of-the-forefathers.html
Congratulations Gasman! Arianna Huffingsellout did her site, and we who helped build her empire's fortune for her, a great disservice.
ReplyDeleteI was booted for citing sarah's email verbatim and citing the source that was mentioned in the original article itself.
Boener walked away from 4.7 trillion dollars in cuts, then calls Rush Limbaugh after his speech rebutting Obama's speech.
The blind, fractured and poorly lead GOP doesn't get it, never will, nor never will try for one reason, and one reason only.
There is a Black Man in the White House!
Congratulations on your second term, Mr President! Clearly you're the best choice for real America. Move a little to the left, be less reconcilliation obsessed with the GOP, and stand your ground.
@anony 5:16 - I am happy to report that there have been a lot of organizations mobilizing people to call their congressman, the White House and Boehner. There are so many people calling they are crashing the web sites, the telephone systems. Let's keep it up people.
ReplyDeleteYes Wolfbitch, you may certainly borrow the graph for your website.
ReplyDeleteIn fact I borrowed it from Ezra Klein myself who in turn borrowed it from the New York Times.
It's the internet, we share everything.
I had a 20 min argument with an aide in Senator David Vitter's office today. I asked what the Senator's position was regarding the debt ceiling and he gave me the standard GOP talking points about how spending needs to be brought under control blah blah blah. I asked what the debt limit had to do with that since it was to pay for spending that Congress ALREADY approved!?!
ReplyDeleteI asked WHY Vitter was SO opposed to raising the taxes back to the levels they were for incomes over $250K when the median income for families in La is $49K. I asked WHY if he's supposed to be representing ALL of the people in Louisiana, he didn't seem to care that MOST of the people that live here will suffer under his party's plan.
The guy then proceeded to hand me the same bullshit about how raising taxes on the "corporations" would kill jobs and hurt the economy more. I told him that was garbage since the Bush tax cuts were supposed to increase jobs and all it did was make the rich richer and explode the debt. I asked where the jobs were that those tax cuts were supposed to create? They didn't appear when they were first made & they sure didn't pop up this past December!! So where are they?!
Then he started in on the bailouts. About how they exploded the debt and failed. I pointed out that BUSH started the bailouts and it wasn't such a huge failure since the auto industry PAID BACK the loan!! He then said "Obama slid in a bunch of back door deals that bailed out companies that supported his campaign". I called BS and said if that was true it would have been all over the news. He said the news "had a tendency to look the other way with him". I said I never heard it on FOX news & they sure as hell hate him.
He then said, "well trust me, its true"
Yep, no proof of course. Just TRUST HIM.
Pretty much the Repukelican motto isn't it?
I ended the call by saying that I was obviously wasting my time since Vitter has made it clear who his loyalties really lie with. I also told him that Dave better get his diaper ready cuz he's gonna shart himself next election!!!