[Walts Ice Pick]

Do we really want them to come out before the election and promise to phase out the Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid programs? Wouldn't it be better to first get elected and then explain to the public why it is necessary to dismantle the welfare state?

If they don't get elected, they can't do anything.

[mimaw]

Oh! stop it your just being reasonable.

[mazda77]

Granted to your point but Earmarks are not in that category. Another big issue is “riders” attached to a bill like Harry’s Dream Act attachement to the Defense Approporiations Bill. That would stop of this stupid gotcha legislation.

[upchuck]

Do we really want them to come out before the election and promise to phase out the Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid programs? Wouldn't it be better to first get elected and then explain to the public why it is necessary to dismantle the welfare state?

I strongly object to your saying that Social Security and Medicare are part of the welfare state.

I worked long and hard and contributed big bucks to both those programs. It's not my fault the politicians can't manage money worth a damn.

Midicaid, absolutely yes, that's welfare, paid for by you and me to mostly shiftless losers who've never contributed anything.

[eclecticEel]

Wouldn't it be better to first get elected and then explain to the public why it is necessary to dismantle the welfare state?

This next congress certainly won't have any such power.

[rabscuttle385]

If they don't get elected, they can't do anything.

If they don't know what to do in the first place, or are unable to publicly articulate and defend it, then getting elected is an exercise in futility.

[chilltherats]

I mostly agree, but I think it’s obvious that a promise to balance the budget is impossible to implement while zero is in the WH. What they could have promised is to submit a balanced budget that includes no earmarks.

[Non-Sequitur]

Do we really want them to come out before the election and promise to phase out the Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid programs? Wouldn't it be better to first get elected and then explain to the public why it is necessary to dismantle the welfare state?

Do you actually believe the GOP would ever do that?