Sequestration cuts would destroy U.S. economy Congress must not allow devastating cuts in defense...

Baltimore Sun ^ | 8/27/12 | Clayola Brown

[Libloather]

In fact, budget cuts scheduled to start next January could set back economic recovery for years. The automatic cuts, known as "sequestration," were set in motion by the failure of a congressional "Supercommittee" to develop a long-term budget plan last fall and will take effect Jan. 1 unless Congress approves a new agreement before then.

[Libloather]

Clayola Brown is national president of the A. Philip Randolph Institute, the nation's leading African-American labor organization. Her email is cbrown@aflcio.org.

[GeronL]

How stupid do you have to be to think that government spending helps the economy??

[greatvikingone]

Sequestration will leave the duties of the Navy to an already overworked Coast Guard. Cutting off your leg is not a wise weight loss alternative to diet and exercise.

[BobL]

Interesting that this is the ONLY time in my (long) life that I’ve heard liberals actually COMPLAIN about defense cuts.

If this doesn’t make it OBVIOUS that they’re up to something, nothing will.

[GeronL]

I wasn’t referring to that specifically, but the notion that cutting government spending would destroy the US economy.

It’s ridiculous.

[Doogle]

it’s Odungo’s priority!!

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

If this doesn’t make it OBVIOUS that they’re up to something, nothing will.
____________________________________________________

It has been rumbling out there for a while that they want to unionize the military. I had my suspicions...particularly when Obama cut their healthcare.

[griswold3]

I’ve heard Howard Dean and Patty Murray say going over the fiscal cliff would hurt the nation for about two quarters. Two quarters would be enough time for the ‘progressives’ to blame it all on the Republicans. They believe that disaster would effectively end the Republicans once and for all. That is their political calculation.

[TwelveOfTwenty]

In fact, budget cuts scheduled to start next January could set back economic recovery for years.

Since there has been no recovery, we'd have nothing to lose.

[Jacquerie]

I look forward to the day the environs of Washington DC are as prosperous as . . . Detroit.

[SunkenCiv]

• Obama: "I want to make sure we end before the call to prayer"
• Iran Deploys Troops, Ballistic Missiles To Eritrea [2008]

[familyop]

"Interesting that this is the ONLY time in my (long) life that I’ve heard liberals actually COMPLAIN about defense cuts.

If this doesn’t make it OBVIOUS that they’re up to something, nothing will."

The social left infiltrated and dominated offices of defense contractors long ago. Men aren't welcome (e.g., the few from real combat specialties).

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Libloather.

[SueRae]

Plenty of them either work in the defense industry or in these Congresscritters’ districts. The impact down the supply chain will affect a lot more people than the Rats intended. And most notifications have to go out just before the election. Well well well.

[greatvikingone]

“I had my suspicions...particularly when Obama cut their healthcare.”

When did he cut our healthcare - I didn’t get the memo.

[Venturer]

I know it happened , I know that a supposed bi-partisan group of A-hole politicians of both parties passed these so-called Sequestrian cuts,
but it is still hard for me to believe.

How stupid was this move and how did people of either party THAT stupid get elected.

[Libloather]

When did he cut our healthcare - I didn’t get the memo.

If you have Tricare, hold on tight. Although, I've heard the conversion over to Commiecare™ is pretty painless.

White House Takes Appropriators to Task on Pay, TRICARE

Rush: Obama to veto military appropriations to force military off TRICARE

The War On Tricare [Panetta Cefends Tricare Cuts]

Obama sending to Congress bill to triple TRICARE premiums

Trashing Tricare...Obama to cut healthcare benefits for active duty and retired US military

[napscoordinator]

This is the dumbest thing ever. The Navy will not be able to operate along with the rest of the Armed Forces. Sure there is waste there too but to completely shut down with Iran being stupid is NOT good. Perhaps that is their goal (Obama). I believe they will pass something before this happens. What about Iraq and Afghanistan? Americans are still fighting over there.

[greatvikingone]

Thanks for the heads up.

This is the most recent I can find: http://www.sidneyherald.com/news/article_df9d5468-e0bb-11e1-a664-0019bb2963f4.html

[Gilbo_3]

I know it happened , I know that a supposed bi-partisan group of A-hole politicians of both parties passed these so-called Sequestrian cuts, but it is still hard for me to believe.

i seem to remember a smokey-backroom type deal that was touted as a brilliant victory to save the Republic...it was 50%...no, maybe 60%...no, WAIT, it was 95 % of what *our* side wanted...!!!

and IIRC, it was an economic genius who craftily manuevered the rats into the corner, and pulled out this fiscal victory...to bad that guy anint seeking a higher office...

WAIT AGAIN !!! WHAT ???

[Myrddin]

You have that right with respect to unionizing the military. European militaries are already unionized. The final death blow to our military.

[sarasmom]

Beats me, but our current crop of elected and appointed government officials conduct themselves like contestants for American Idol, instead of soberly doing the important jobs they were elected/appointed to do.

I advocate firing all of them!
And charging most of them for criminal breach of contract, and sending most of them to prison, voiding all their pensions and benefits.

Yeah, I know that's not going to happen.
But better that, than another USA civil war.
And another USA civil war, once considered inconceivable, is now a perfectly plausible scenario.
One that a few hundred thousand elected and appointed (and seriously delusional) unionized civil servants actually believe they have adequately prepared for, and will actually “win”.

LOL!

[Myrddin]

Notifications must go out 60 days prior due to the WARN Act. That is November 1st. Perfect timing for the election.

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

Yep! I knew the Netherlands were. And here is some propaganda on Military.com:

http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs/career-advice/on-the-job/jobs-and-union-organizing.html

http://www.shtfplan.com/headline-news/insider-report-obama-administration-intends-to-unionize-u-s-military-with-executive-order_09122011

[Hojczyk]

The military wastes plenty of money..and a lot more is wasted by congress and there pet projects that help only them.. We have way to many admirals and generals..read Patton there is more politics in the military than in congress

[bigdaddy45]

So if the DoD cuts from say....$700B to $650B, it won’t be able to operate? Bravo Sierra. The DoD will have to make painful cuts, and get rid of crap they should not be paying for, but I find this notion that a $650B DoD would be a “hollowed out force” to be laughable.

Get out of Afghanistan, stop being the world’s policeman, and let Europe pay for its own defense.

[BobL]

“And most notifications have to go out just before the election. Well well well.”

I think that’s it. They forgot about the 60 day law.

[WOSG]

First, the idea that DoD cutbacks would harm our economy is ... hyperbole. It’s sad to hear Republicans spout that, they need to cut that out - its keynesians pro-government-spending gibberish.

Second, we do need to cut military spending and ALL spending. We cant keep spending money we dont have. The military cuts were a ‘we’ll do this if we dont comup with something better’ - well, if these cuts are wrong, what OTHER cuts do the critics have to replace them?

To do it balanced, there is a simple solution. Extend the Jan 1 deadline by one quarter, to allow the new congress to put a full plan together, so it doesnt all fall on the military. As I said, LOTS of places to cut, and lets not excldue DoD.

More procrastination, but that is is due to the failure of obama and congress back in august 2011.

[napscoordinator]

Well I actually read the article and you are right. It is nothing like I thought it was going to be....next time reading the article first might help. :-)

[ROTB]

and let Europe pay for its own defense.

***

Those are our forward bases.

[NVDave]

The Congress will never agree to a list of cuts based on some kind of priority.

It’s best to just grin and bear the across the board cuts, because that’s the only way we’re likely to actually cut spending at all.

[sickoflibs]

RE :”I know it happened , I know that a supposed bi-partisan group of A-hole politicians of both parties passed these so-called Sequestrian cuts, but it is still hard for me to believe.
......
i seem to remember a smokey-backroom type deal that was touted as a brilliant victory to save the Republic...it was 50%...no, maybe 60%...no, WAIT, it was 95 % of what *our* side wanted...!!”

Gilb knows who to ping for this.

I posted this vanity the day the REPUBLICAN house passed it:

Please recall some more inspiring days when Republicans said:
“We'd like to know why you haven't read all the bills you filed.”
“ We'd like for you to read them for yourself”
Passing of bipartision 'Budget Control Act' Reminds me of another bill Pelosi passed last Year (sickoflibs rant | 8/2/2011)

[Paine in the Neck]

Another disastrous gift from Barney Frank. He has for many years harbored a wish to massively gut the Defense establishment. You'll recall:

Free Republic:Barney Frank: Cut the Military Budget (by 25% - no evidence defense spending is economic stimulus)

[Terry Mross]

After seeing 2016 THE MOVIE I now know exactly why he bowed to the Saudi King.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks!